Luca Marazzi, C. Max Finlayson, Peter A. Gell, Paul Julian, John S. Kominoski, Evelyn E. Gaiser, Balancing Wetland Restoration Benefits to People and Nature, The Solutions Journal, Volume 9, Issue 3, July 2018,
(https://www.thesolutionsjournal.com/article/balancing-wetland-restoration-benefits-people-nature/)
Abstract:
Loss, Restoration and Multiple Values of Wetlands
Where data exists, it has been shown that humans have destroyed 50-87% of the world’s original wetlands1, leaving about 12 million km2 of wetland area2. This alarming loss of wetlands was mostly caused by agricultural and urban development. Stakeholders involved in the conversion of wetlands likely underestimated their value for conservation, cultural, and recreational purposes. We believe that wetland restoration needs to benefit people, including indigenous and non-indigenous communities, and nature in a balanced way that accommodates the diversity of human uses, but also maintains ecosystem function and biodiversity3.
Although some wetlands are too degraded to be restored4, ecosystem services, such as food provision and land stability, can still be rehabilitated in many other wetlands. To halt and potentially reverse wetland degradation, restoration has increasingly moved to the center stage in policy agendas for …
Topics:
Conservation